XL97: How To Create a Dynamic Chart Using Visual Basic

ID: Q157940

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows

SUMMARY

When you record a macro to create a chart, the source address of the cells you used to create the chart are fixed by Microsoft Excel. This article contains a Visual Basic for Applications macro that you can use to create a

chart when the source address that contains the data for the chart varies.

MORE INFORMATION

Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language being demonstrated and the tools used to create and debug procedures. Microsoft support professionals can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific needs. If you have limited programming experience, you may want to contact the Microsoft fee-based consulting line at (800) 936-5200. For more information about the support options available from Microsoft, please see the following page on the World Wide Web:

   http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/refguide/

Before you run the macro, follow these steps:

1. Enter the following information on Sheet1 of a new workbook.

      C3:         D3:  Region 1   E3:  Region 2   F3:  Region 3
      C4:  Jan    D4:  10         E4:  80         F4:  15
      C5:  Feb    D5:  20         E5:  70         F5:  25
      C6:  Mar    D6:  30         E6:  60         F6:  35
      C7:  Apr    D7:  40         E7:  50         F7:  45

2. Enter the following procedure in a Module sheet.

      Sub CreateChart()

          'Create a New Chart
          Charts.Add
          'Change the Chart Type to the desired type
          ActiveChart.ChartType = xlColumnClustered
          'Sets the Source Data to the Region of data starting with the
          'top left corner C3. This line of code assumes that the
          'region of cells is contiguous - without empty rows or columns.
          ActiveChart.SetSourceData _
              Source:=Sheets("Sheet1").Range("C3").CurrentRegion, _
              PlotBy:=xlColumns

      End Sub

3. Click Sheet1 and run the macro. On the Tools menu, point to Macro,

   and then click Macros. Select CreateChart and click Run.

4. The macro will use the CurrentRegion property to "find" adjacent data to

   cell C3 on Sheet1 and create a column chart on a new Chart sheet.

REFERENCES

For more information about the chart object, click the Office Assistant while in the Visual Basic Editor, type "chart object," click Search, and then click to view "chart object."

NOTE: If the Assistant is hidden, click the Office Assistant button on the Standard toolbar. If the Assistant is not able to answer your query, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q176476
   TITLE     : OFF97: Office Assistant Not Answering Visual Basic Questions

Additional query words: XL97

Keywords          : kbprg kbdta kbdtacode KbVBA xlchart 
Version           : WINDOWS:97
Platform          : WINDOWS

Last Reviewed: May 18, 1999